Sunday, April 13

Ten Ways to Cope Without The Complete Jane Austen Series

Inquiring Readers, Our fifth and last guest blogger for The Complete Jane Austen on Masterpiece Classic is Laurie Viera Rigler, author of Confessions of a Jane Austen Addict. Laurie needs no introduction. She has written a best seller, was a guest blogger onRemotely Connected,and contributes timely and interesting posts to her own website. In this post, Laurie addresses the withdrawal symptoms we are all feeling now that the wildly successful PBS Jane Austen series is over. When you reach the bottom of this post, you will have an opportunity to win a paperback copy of Laurie's book. All you need to do is add you own ideas to this list! (Please note: Contest is over as of 4-26)

What? No more weekly doses of Austen on PBS? Fear not, my fellow addicts. Help is here. All you need to do is follow this ten-part program.

Re-reading Austen's six novels (or reading them for the first time) will of course play a big role in this program. Ah, but what accompanies each read will make your experience even sweeter.

1. Try Northanger Abbey for your first post-Masterpiece read. Why Northanger Abbey? One reason could be that it was the first of Austen's novels to be accepted by a publisher—who then couldn't be bothered to publish it. Idiot. Thumbing your nose at such stupidity is one reason to read it first. Another, even better reason, is that NA's a fun way to shake off the post-Masterpiece blues.

After you read the book, see what it's like to be Catherine Morland, the heroine of Northanger Abbey. How? Drive or walk around your city or town and pretend you are seeing it from the point of view of someone who has never been there and finds it fascinating and exciting. See? You're experiencing your world like Catherine experienced the city of Bath. If you're hard pressed to find something exciting or fascinating about your world, go into the nearest flower garden and learn to love a hyacinth. Or just think about how a young woman from the late eighteenth/early nineteenth century might respond to some of the modern technological wonders you take for granted. Like hot showers, for example. Flush toilets in every house. Mascara. Tampons.

Then, top off your newfound sense of wonder and appreciation for your world by firing up your DVD player with the 2007 adaptation of Northanger Abbey* starring J.J. Feild and Felicity Jones. There. Aren't you feeling better already?

After you close the book on Elinor and Marianne, imagine what happens next. (We all know these characters are real and keep living their lives after the books end, don't we?) Here's a fun situation to ponder: What happens the first time Edward and Elinor go to London and have dinner at Edward's mother's house—and are sitting across the table from Lucy and Robert? What do they talk about? Imagine Elinor sitting in the drawing room after dinner with Mrs. Ferrars and Lucy. And here's another one to consider: Should Marianne, or Mrs. Dashwood, ever confront John Dashwood about his broken promise to help them financially? If you were to write that speech, what would you have Marianne say? Or should the Dashwood ladies let John's own guilty conscience do all the work?

Now that you've survived all those Dashwood/Ferrars family reunions, reward yourself with a screening of the Ang Lee/Emma Thompson Oscar-winningSense and Sensibility (1995)* And while you're at it, order yourself a large pizza, chocolate cake, and/or a trough of margaritas. Yes. This program is definitely working.

3. Read Pride and Prejudice.

After you read the book, imagine that you are Elizabeth experiencing your first visit to Rosings as Mrs. Darcy. (Lady Catherine has cooled down by now and consoles herself by hoping that her nephew will be so fortunate as to become widowed at a young age and redeem himself by taking a second wife, i.e., Anne de Bourgh.) Amuse yourself by observing the gyrations of Mr. Collins when he and Charlotte join the Rosings party for dinner. As Elizabeth once said to Mr. Darcy, "Follies and nonsense, whims and inconsistencies do divert me, I own, and I laugh at them whenever I can."

But wait, there's more. It's time to watch theColin Firth/Jennifer Ehle P&P mini again (one can never watch it too many times), and/or the 2005 movie with Keira Knightley, depending on whether your idea of Mr. Darcy is Colin Firth or Matthew MacFadyen or both. The 1995 mini is a great excuse to have a pajama party (where I grew up, we called them slumber parties). And one is never too old to have a slumber party. Send the kids away for sleepovers and banish any curmudgeonly significant others. Then, bring in lots of goodies, because five hours of viewing requires a great deal of fuel. There's all that fencing and swimming and dancing and taking refreshing turns around the room. I'm getting exhausted just thinking about it. No matter which film you watch (or even if you watch both), be sure to buy the soundtrack of the 2005 film and play often. It's stunning.

4. Read Mansfield Park.

Even if you're a reader who can't quite warm up to Austen's heroine Fanny Price (I feel your pain, but do give her some time; she grew on me after awhile), you can have a lot of fun thinking about how this book could have ended but didn't. For me, that's the most fascinating, thought-provoking aspect of Mansfield Park. As Patricia Rozema, director of the controversial 1999 adaptation of Mansfield Park, put it in her screenplay, "It could have all turned out differently, I suppose. But it didn't." With that in mind, imagine what would have happened if Edmund had married Mary Crawford, and if Fanny had given in and married Henry Crawford. Happy marriages? Reformed rakes? Or a disaster?

As compensation for the lack of a truly satisfying Mansfield Park film (see below)*, you get to watch the lovely 2007 BBC mini of Sense and Sensibility instead. I know, it's Sense and Sensibility, not Mansfield Park, and you just saw it on TV, but who cares? It's worth seeing again. It'll make you feel good. And isn't that what this program is all about?

*I'm one of the minority of Janeites who liked the 1999 Patricia Rozema adaptation of Mansfield Park, but I liked it more as a story inspired by Mansfield Park than as an adaptation per se. Rozema's rendering of Fanny Price is more like the director's idea of a young Jane Austen than the protagonist Jane Austen wrote for Mansfield Park. And Rozema's vision of the story's subtext is pretty dark. But then again, the book itself is perhaps the least "light, and bright, and sparkling" of Austen's works. By the way, there is a fascinating article on this film by Kathi Groenendyk in JASNA's journal Persuasions. As for the latest adaptation that aired on PBS, it has such a truncated version of the story that one wonders how anyone who didn't read the book could figure out what's going on. Mrs. Norris, Fanny's main nemesis, has mysteriously turned into a bland creature. And Fanny Price looks entirely too 21st-century and wears cleavage-baring day dresses (none of this is the fault of the actors, but still). As for the 1983 BBC mini, the heroine is more faithful to the book than its companions. However, while the principal actors are unquestionably talented I couldn't quite see some of them in their roles. And it's got that static, video-on-a-stage feel of early BBC productions that I find challenging to watch.

5. Read Emma.

After you finish the book, play a little game called "Emma, Reformed Matchmaker." You'll need to play with a single friend (preferably a single friend who would like to be in a couple). Each of you sits down and writes a list of qualities that your friend's perfect, future mate should possess. Do not reveal what is on your lists until both of you are finished writing. Now share. You may be surprised to find that your lists differ greatly. When you read your friend's list, refrain from exclamations of horror unless one of the items on that list includes "must be incarcerated in a maximum security prison." Now, give your list to your friend to take home with her. Tell her she is free to cross out whatever she doesn't like on your list and keep whatever she does like. Or burn the whole thing. If she cares to share her final list with you, you may keep your eyes open for appropriate candidates and discreetly point them out to her. That's "point them out," not shove them in her face. Remember, you are "Emma, Reformed Matchmaker." If your friend doesn't care to share her final list, then graciously wish her all the best in finding her dream partner and promptly change the subject. Then, take her to Ford's (or local emporium of your choice) to buy a new dress. Or draw her picture. Without a potential mate watching the proceedings. See? You're a better, happier human being already.Now that you've had a successful run at self-improvement, Jane Austen-style, you deserve to have an Emma film festival. That's three very clever films indeed: The Kate Beckinsale/Mark Strong-starrer, the Gwyneth Paltrow/Jeremy Northammovie, and the brilliant Clueless, starring Alicia Silverstone and directed by Amy Heckerling. Three fabulous films means you get to invite at least three friends over to have a viewing party or slumber party. And stock up on provisions, for a private screening of three films, without sitting down to supper, [would be] pronounced an infamous fraud upon the rights of men and women.

6. Read Persuasion.

After you finish the book, amuse yourself by imagining whether or not Mrs. Clay will indeed become the next Lady Eliot. If she does, will Anne and Frederick, or any of her family, ever visit Sir William and Lady Eliot? How will Mary's health survive it? Or Elizabeth's pride? Or on a pleasanter note, will Capt. Wentworth allow his wife on board his ship? If so, what exciting places will Anne visit?

Watch the lovely, 1995 adaptation of Persuasionstarring Amanda Root and Ciaran Hinds. Optional: the 2007 version of Persuasion. Although Austen's story is compressed into a scant 93 minutes in the latest version, this one is also worth watching, particularly if you love Rupert Penry-Jones as much as I do. Besides, the DVD restores the small but significant bits that were cut from the PBS broadcast.

7. Join the Jane Austen Society of North America (JASNA) and mingle with fellow Janeites at local and national meetings. I know what you're thinking, and yes, the rumors are all true. It's a cult. We have a secret handshake. We aim for total world domination. Okay, you can stop sweating now. I'm kidding. Really. JASNA is a community of warm, welcoming, fun-loving people who love Jane Austen and love getting together and talking about their favorite author with like-minded people. Like you. There are local reading groups (think Jane Austen Book Club, but usually with more than just the six Austen novels), regional get-togethers with fascinating speakers, entertainment, and delicious food, special screenings for members, and annual general meetings (AGMs) in a different city each year with talks and panels and workshops and English country dance lessons and a banquet and a Regency ball. At my first AGM I thought I'd died and gone to Austen heaven.

8. Watch a film that's so life-affirming and joyful that it merits a place of its own on this list: Bride and Prejudice, Gurinder Chadha's Bollywood-meets-Hollywood tribute to Pride and Prejudice. It's way better than a year's supply of antidepressants or a gallon of Absolut martinis. Hint: This one merits a party or at least inviting one friend over to watch with you. First, order in Indian food. Then, before popping in the DVD, unearth floaty scarves from your wardrobe or nearest accessory emporium, and keep them on hand to wave around while you dance along with the various musical numbers. Be sure to buy the soundtrack and play it in your car or on your iPod while commuting to work the next day. I feel better just thinking about it.

9. Now that you've got that Indian groove thang going, try English country dancing. Then you can watch all the movies set in Jane Austen's time again, and at the ballroom scenes you can dance along. There are many places to learn English country dancing, and from my experience, the people are friendly and welcome beginners, and there's no need to bring a partner with you. Some dance societies hold regular dances and even annual balls. In Southern California, check out Vintage Dance & History. Nationwide, go to the English Country Dance Webringand the Country Dance and Song Society.

10. Finally, take a trip back in time to Regency England. No, I haven't lost my mind. I have, however, written a novel that will transport you to 1813 England. Confessions of a Jane Austen Addictis the story of a modern L.A. girl and Austen fan who wakes up one morning as an Englishwoman's in Austen's time. As of April 29, Confessions comes out in paperback, which means the fare to Jane Austen's world becomes even more affordable.

Win a free paperback copy of Confessions of a Jane Austen Addict!If you have another item or two to add to this list, the folks at Jane Austen Today and I would love to hear your suggestions, and I'm sure the readers of this blog will thank you. Just enter your suggestions as a comment below, and we'll enter you in a random drawing. The winner gets a copy of Confessions of a Jane Austen Addict.

Kind of going the music route...Buy a book of the score of a Jane Austen movie. Your best bet is PROBABLY Pride and Prejudice 05 - the music is phenomenal, like all of Dario Marianelli's music. I haven't been able to play it yet because I'm still the most beginner of beginners on the piano, but for those of you who know the basics, it's apparently pretty easy to play. Did I mention it's a beautiful score?

I have not read many of the books, but have watched many of the movies, so my only suggestion would be to read anyone of these great books and listen to a music cd at the same time, I love my P&P soundtrack. I know that I would enjoy that. I enojy reading but love to listen to audio books while I drive sometimes too.I have often thought of what could happen next after the story ends.I hope to one day visit England and see some of these breathtaking places that Jane wrote about.

Thank you so much for the wonderful suggestions! I host a Jane Austen Tea and a movie every month for my dear friends (some of who had never heard of Jane Austen!). They are all now fans (of course) This Friday, I will be screening "Becoming Jane" with a tea after. I will share all of your suggestions with my group. Please visit my blog at http://partywishesscv.blogspot.com/

Delightful Laurie! My favorite suggestion is to Catherineize your environment. Easier to do now that spring is upon us with flowers and finer weather! We can rediscover the delights of being a fine walkers!

I would like to attempt one or more of the activities that would have been practiced by Jane Austen's wonderful female characters. Steal an hour a day to try my hand at sketching, painting, needlepoint, reading, learning a language, singing, etc. Life is so busy and complicated these days - so many obligations and not enough leisure time. I would love to emulate my favorite heroines, and honor Jane, by taking one hour for myself (and my improvement...LOL) each day.

I would add one movie: Bridget Jones' Diary which is loosely based on Pride and Prejudice, but more importantly includes my favorite Mr. Darcy, Colin Firth who again plays a Mr. Darcy in the movie. The movie also includes Hugh Grant who played Edward Ferrers in the Emma Thompson version of Sense and Sensibility. The Bridget Jones Age of Reason (Part 2) movie is not that great, but the first one is wonderful and keeps me laughing throughout the whole movie. So if you are feeling down and in need of a bit of laughter, please watch Bridget Jones' Diary.

Do read and eat up each Austen novel and try at each adaptation of the novels - it's well worth the time. Also spend time reading other Austen period novels. Cabot's Nicola and the Viscount is a good read about a girl entering society. The novel Suspense and Sensibility is pretty good as well as it ties P & P and S & S together as Mr. and Mrs. Darcy look for a husband for Kitty.

get and watch pride and prejudice http://www.prideprejudice.com/ the "latter day" version...i am not mormon and it's not my favorite...but it's another version and really, even bad austen is good right?...(not that it's bad!)

introduce a friend or family member to Jane Austen! While on a trip to visit my grandchildren, I helped my daughter-in-law pick out Pride and Prejudice to read! I also filled her in on all the other movie versions that she has been missing!

Refer to your (somewhat jaded) 17 year old daughter as Miss Elizabeth Bennett, especially in front of her friends. Refer to your 8 yo daughter as Miss Mary Anne Dashwood so she doesn't feel left out. Refer to your husband as Mr. Darcy in children's presence, ignoring their chagrin. Make them all watch 1995 P&P several times, very necessary since there are no subtitles, so they can catch all the nuances in the film. Talk about all the Harry Potter movie characters that keep popping up in the Jane Austen films. Drop funny S&S and P&P quotes during normal everyday conversation with them (English accent optional but highly recommended). Look at Regency England-inspirid dress patterns to plan 8 yo's Halloween costume. Tell 8 yo that yes, you will add wings to the dress so she can still be a fairy for Halloween, a Regency-era fairy. "Accidentally" curl the hair on your 17 yo in such a manner that it resembles a Regency-style bob and then state that her hair just wants to be that way naturally. Rejoice when 8 yo brings home her weekly vocabulary sheet from school to find it contains the word "prejudice", which needs to be used in a sentence. Get P&P the Latter-day version (thanks Erin J!) so 17 yo can take with her to her Young Women's meeting to purposefully introduce a whole new unsuspecting generation to Jane Austen. When 8 yo asks 17 yo why her face is all wet at the end of viewing Masterpiece's S&S, turn your head so they don't see you smile.

My suggestion is to give Number-One--wander through town as Cath. Morland--a turn in a completely inappropriate setting; for instance: some farmland in the delta south. Ah!, the sweet springtime air is filled with Sighs blown down from the ranch-style on the hill. How the black cows low! Oranges in a basket? Surely, they hide the severed hand of the lady of the house.

Kick it up a notch and see what P&P is like from the male perspective; Pamela Aidan's 'Fitzwilliam Darcy (Gentleman)' Trilogy is delightful. If you STILL haven't had your fill of the marvelous Miss Bennet and Mr. Darcy (like I never do) then grab a copy of one of Linda Berdoll's racy novels that give us glimpses of what life at Pemberly is like for the new Mr. & Mrs. Darcy!! Happy thought indeed!

Hmmm - I thought I commented on this when you first posted but don't see it here. I love this list! I have Austentism (my post on this condition is from a few weeks back) and this 10 step program looks like just the type of indulgence I'd like. Thanks!

Oh yes - and to add to your list...Read "Jane Austen's Guide to Good Manners - Compliments, Charades & Horrible Blunders" by Josephine Ross. This is such a nice reference that augments the novels nicely for a better understanding of the implications of manners in Jane's time.Also, I have thoroughly enjoyed Pamela Aiden's novels that give Mr. Darcy's perspective of the Pride and Prejudice timeframe. I check out http://www.pemberley.com/index.html for reader's recommendations of sequels and other interpretations of Jane's novels. There are some bad ones, but some lovely indulgences there too.And finally, reading some of her juvenile writings, also to be found on http://www.pemberley.com/index.html is interesting. They aren't as complex as her novels but they give you a sense of the dramatic and comedic storytelling to come from Jane the adult.

Another possibility: buy a "maxi dress" but be sure it's trim enough to look like an empire dress; add a shrug or a light duster; go walking on the main street of your town arm-in-arm with a good friend, preferably looking in shop windows and stopping for tea along the way. This will make you feel as if you are one of Jane's characters and will be a lot of fun! (I know, I've done it!)

Read Jane's letters and her so-called minor works : they're brilliant and hilarious.

After having watched S&S95 and listened to the commentary, please please treat yourself to the S&S Diaries, written by Emma Thompson : it's a wonderful mix of very sweet and very profane language, it'll give you an even greater ( if possible ) appreciation of the adaptation.

Dear Fellow J.A. Readers,When in read your favorite book of Ms. Austen's or watch a movie why not put on your "Jane" Dress? I do. My mum sewed me one with a modern zipper in the back of it of I can get into without any trouble. There is something of gracefully walking around with all of that fabric swishing around you. I feel elegant in it. Now mind you I don't "wear" it all the time but It's neat to be able to dress up in it from time to time. The books I am reading now are Jane Austen:Her Life and Letter A family Record and Mr. Darcy Diary.Yours, Affectionately,K.U.

Read your favorite Austen book in any other language except your home language. This can be a bit fustrating at the beginning, but you already know the story, and the differences between the languages can be very entertaining. :)

Persuasion, an annotated edition, edited by Robert Morrison: A Review

Jane Austen Still Present in Society

Elizabeth Langland, literature scholar at Arizona State University, discussed Jane Austen's relevance today in a lecture she gave last year. Click on image to read excerpts of her speech.

Jane Austen's Crime

Podcast with Susannah Fullerton from JASA

Poll: What did you think of Kate Middleton's wedding dress?

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In honor of the royal wedding: Princess Charlotte's wedding dress, 1816

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The Obituary of Charlotte Collins by Andrew Capes

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History of London: Wattle and Daub

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A silhouette of "Caky" for sale: Nanny to Edward Austen Knight's children

Find out more about this auction item by clicking on the image. Jane Austen most likely knew Caky. Jane Austen most likely knew Caky.

Interview with Susannah Fullerton, President of the Jane Austen Society of Australia

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